Evening all! Sports Mole's live pre-season coverage continues from Michigan, and it is a real cracker of an affair as bitter rivals Manchester United and Liverpool lock horns in the International Champions Cup. In the grand scheme of things, this is not a big match. But there is no such a thing as a friendly between United and Liverpool at any level. Stay tuned for all of the action!

Right, before anything else, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news for this all-Premier League affair. Liverpool have a very strong squad out in the United States, but United are certainly understrength, as Jose Mourinho has been keen to point out in the build-up.

TEAMS!

UNITED: Grant; Darmian, Fosu-Mensah, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Mitchell; McTominay, Herrera, Pereira, Mata; Sanchez

LIVERPOOL: Grabara; Camacho, Klavan, Van Dijk, Moreno; Fabinho, Lallana, Milner; Salah, Solanke, Mane

Fred is only on the bench for United tonight, which is not a surprise when considering how late he joined up with the rest of the squad. Andreas Pereira, Ander Herrera and Scott McTominay start as the midfield three, and it appears that Juan Mata will operate behind Alexis Sanchez in the final third. Matteo Darmian - the unsettled Matteo Darmian - is in at right wing-back for the Red Devils.

FRED
1⃣7⃣#MUFC #MUTOUR pic.twitter.com/2GbavT52M9 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 28, 2018

As for Liverpool, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane start for the first time this summer, while there is a spot between the sticks for teenager Kamil Grabara due to Loris Karius's injury. Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Adam Lallana and James Milner also start in what is a strong XI for the Merseyside outfit.

There is no question that Liverpool have the stronger team on paper tonight, and neither manager will read too much into the result tonight. That said, it is always nice to win, and always nice to overcome a rival. The stadium is filling up with just about 30 minutes until kickoff in this match.

United opened their preparations for the new campaign with a 1-1 draw against Club America on July 20, before drawing 0-0 with San Jose Earthquakes two days later. Their third match brought a 1-1 draw with AC Milan on Wednesday night, before overcoming the Italians on penalties.

United are still without the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford due to their participation in the 2018 World Cup, and it is not exactly the ideal preparations for the Red Devils for the new campaign. It is worth remembering that they open their Premier League season at home to Leicester City in less than two weeks, and the Red Devils simply have to hit the ground running.

The kind of scenes we ❤️ to see! #MUFC #MUTOUR pic.twitter.com/0EcSfs4jcx — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 28, 2018

In terms of what is ahead for United, they will bring their US tour to a close with a clash against the European champions Real Madrid on Tuesday night. Mourinho's side then head to Germany to face Bayern Munich on August 5 ahead of their Premier League opener with Leicester on August 10.

As for Liverpool, Klopp's side have already played a lot of football this summer. Indeed, they opened their pre-season with a 7-0 win over Chester on July 7, before recording a 3-2 win over Tranmere Rovers. A goalless draw with Bury followed before beating Blackburn Rovers 2-0.

The Reds opened their US tour with a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday night, before recording a 2-1 win over Manchester City last time out. This is Liverpool's final game in the United States before returning to Europe to take on Napoli and Torino ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

📍 The Big House.

What a place. 👌👌 pic.twitter.com/hBpsk0IF87

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 28, 2018

Liverpool will open their 2018-19 Premier League campaign at home to West Ham United on August 12, and Klopp's team will be under pressure to make a fast start. The Merseyside outfit have spent an awful lot of money in this summer's transfer window, and will be expected to challenge the likes of United and Manchester City for the crown. Time will tell whether that is the case!

United are back in their blue kit tonight...

Back in blue. 💪 #MUFC #MUTOUR pic.twitter.com/Gp1qy1YOvq

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 28, 2018

Right, we are approaching 5pm local time in Michigan, and the temperature is around 26 degrees, which is pretty ideal. Probably a touch hotter than the players would like, but it is not absolutely scorching, and we should therefore see a decent tempo. Kickoff is around five minutes away here!

Mourinho: "It's Liverpool first team vs Manchester United kids. For the last two years they have not been able to beat us, today they will think they have a chance." Oh Jose. Jose, Jose, Jose. Nothing quite like stirring the pot ahead of a friendly. Let's hope this one does not disappoint!

Some sight as kick off approaches....#LFC #MUFC pic.twitter.com/aZ1nL9bnyi

— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) July 28, 2018

KICKOFF:  United kick things off in this pre-season clash...

My favourite thing about pre-season is the random changing of players. That has occurred here. Eric Bailly was not even named on the bench originally, but the Ivorian starts here, with Chris Smalling - for some reason - dropping out. There is also a bit of a mystery surrounding Luke Shaw.

Good possession for Liverpool in the early moments of this match, with the team in white working the ball across the defence. There has already been a tasty challenge, with Sanchez feeling one from Fabinho. It must be said that this stadium is absolutely beautiful. The facilities are brilliant.

No chances for either side in the first six minutes, but there has been a decent tempo to the contest. Grant's handling has already been tested, but nothing for the Liverpool stopper thus far. The referee has also been involved due to a couple of little tangles in a midfield position.

Smart defending from Bailly as the United centre-back blocks an attempt from Solanke, who had profited from a quick throw in a wide position. Not too much going forward for United thus far here.

DISALLOWED GOAL!  Mata finishes into the corner, but the Spaniard had been ruled offside.

SAVE!  Wonderful save from Grant to keep out a flicked header from Salah!

OFF THE LINE!  Liverpool come close once again as a corner into the United box causes all sorts of problems, but Herrera manages to clear off the line! Suddenly all happening in Michigan!

Smart goalkeeping from Grant once again to work his way out of a small area. The veteran has looked very good for United during pre-season, and will be more than ready if he is called upon at any point during the 2018-19 campaign. Liverpool are currently in control of the possession.

SAVE!  Decent enough save from Grant to keep out a header from Salah.

Liverpool are the team on the front foot at the moment as they continue to work the ball into dangerous areas. Camacho attempts to deliver a cross into the United box following a period of passing, but the ball floats out for a goal kick. Still goalless with 15 minutes on the clock.

Pereira does well for United in a midfield area before releasing Sanchez, but the Chilean just goes a little bit too wide, and Liverpool can squeeze him out. Pereira has been excellent on this tour.

Sanchez looks to race onto a pass from Mitchell, but Klavan does well to make the clearance. Liverpool then break down the other end and have a little spell of passing in the final third.

Bailly does really well to deny Salah a shooting chance inside the United box, and the Red Devils can then break clear with McTominay, but the midfielder lacks support in a forward area.

DISALLOWED GOAL!  Mata collects a pass from Sanchez before finishing, but again the goal is disallowed. The touch from Mata before he converted was absolutely out of this world. Just wonderful.

Camacho finds space in a forward position before striking towards goal, but his effort was always wide of the post. Still goalless with 22 minutes on the clock, but it has been an entertaining game.

Sanchez and Mata continue to combine impressively in the final third, and that is a real positive for Mourinho on this tour. Surely both will be in the XI against Leicester on August 10.

The supporters inside the stadium continue to create an impressive atmosphere, and the football has produced thus far. Darmian breaks down the right for United before looking for the pass, but Sanchez moves in the other direction. Down the other end, Fosu-Mensah clears ahead of Mane.

PENALTY!  Liverpool have a penalty as Mitchell kicks Salah inside the United box!

GOAL!  Manchester United 0-1 Liverpool (Mane, pen)

Mane sends the ball low into the corner of the net, and Liverpool lead here.

Time for a little drinks break, and Mourinho has something to say to the referee following the penalty. It was clumsy from Mitchell, but Salah did go down very easily it must be said.

GOAL!  Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool (Pereira)

Oh my word. That is stunning! Pereira sends an unstoppable free kick into the top corner. Wonderful effort from Pereira, who has been excellent on this pre-season tour!

Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining, and this has been a proper game. Nothing pre-season about United versus Liverpool, and this match has certainly not disappointed here.

Neither team is really in control of the game at the moment as the play continues to go from end-to-end. There has been plenty for both managers to be pleased about in this first period.

Klavan is very fortunate to escape a yellow card for a rash challenge on Sanchez, who had danced away from three or four challenges. The referee needs to think about a booking here.

Little over five minutes of the first period remaining, and Liverpool have just broken into a wide position through Lallana, but there were no takers on his cross. The ball was kept alive and eventually worked into Mane, but Bailly barged the attacker to the ground inside the penalty box.

Liverpool continue to work the ball in the final third of the field, but the final pass from Salah is loose. Just a reminder that both managers are expected to make wholesale changes at the break.

Bit of possession for United in the closing stages of the first 45 minutes here.

Camacho delivers a dangerous cross into the United box, but Mane cannot make contact!

SAVE!  Van Dijk heads into the arms of Grant from a corner.

Moreno has a goal-bound shot blocked by Bailly as the pressure continues from Liverpool.

HALF TIME:  Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool

So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the pair level at 1-1. Liverpool took the lead in the 28th minute when Mane converted from the penalty spot, before Pereira levelled in the 31st minute with a super free kick. It has been a very good game of football.

STATISTICS! Liverpool shaded the first-half possession with 59%, while they had seven attempts - five of which were on target. United, meanwhile, scored with their only shot in the first period. Liverpool have certainly created the better chances, and Grant has made some good saves.

BENCH WATCH Both managers will make wholesale changes either at the interval or throughout the second period. Summer arrival Fred is on the bench for United tonight, while the likes of Chong, Angel Gomes and Greenwood will be hoping to feature. As for Liverpool, head coach Klopp has options in the shape of Markovic, Robertson and Shaqiri, who will get on tonight.

KICKOFF:  Liverpool resume the action in this pre-season clash...

... there have been changes from both teams at the break. Bare with me!

UNITED SUB! Joel Pereira has replaced Lee Grant between the sticks, and that looks to be the only change for United at the break. Liverpool, however, have made four-ish.

LIVERPOOL SUBS! Shaqiri, Ojo, Phillips, Kelleher and Woodburn have replaced Grabara, Salah, Mane, Klavan and Lallana.

BOOKING! Fabinho (Liverpool) is booked for a poor tackle on Sanchez.

Liverpool have had most of the ball in the early stages of the second period, with United yet to really get going. I wonder how long Mourinho will leave it before making outfield changes.

Smart work from Pereira between the sticks for United as Camacho breaks into the box before striking a cross towards goal. Camacho has certainly caught the eye for Liverpool tonight.

United have not seen too much of the ball in the early stages of the second period, with Liverpool passing and probing. That said, Pereira has not really been tested between the sticks. Just a reminder that Fred is on the United bench and could come on for his debut in this match.

Sanchez finds McTominay on the edge of the Liverpool box, but his effort is weak.

Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining, and Liverpool are the team in control of the ball as they pass and probe in the final third. That said, chances are limited at the moment.

There seems to be an intruder on the field. Well, there is no seems to be about it. There is an intruder on the field, and the stewards are quick on the scene. Decent pace from one of them.

Liverpool are about to make wholesale changes so bare with me!

Half-chance for Liverpool as Ojo meets a deep cross, but his header never really threatens to test Pereira. Liverpool will make their changes when the ball next goes out of play here.

LIVERPOOL SUBS! Van Dijk, Fabinho, Milner, Camacho and Solanke have left the field. Sturridge, Grujic, Jones, Chirivella and Sturridge are on for the Merseyside club.

GOAL!  Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool (Sturridge)

Liverpool score a second, and it is Sturridge's first touch! Shaqiri finds the striker with a clever pass, and he simply slides the ball into the bottom corner of the net. What an introduction.

United are preparing to make a couple of changes of their own. Liverpool, meanwhile, have just had another half-chance, with Sturridge curling the ball wide of Pereira's far post.

UNITED SUBS! Fred and Chong replace Mitchell and Mata.

PENALTY!  Liverpool have another penalty as Robertson goes down under a tackle from Herrera!

GOAL!  Manchester United 1-3 Liverpool (Ojo, pen)

Ojo sends the ball into the bottom corner to send Liverpool 3-1 ahead.

CHANCE!  Sanchez breaks into a dangerous position, but his effort is blocked over the crossbar!

UNITED SUBS! Williams, Bohui and Gomes replace Tuanzebe, Sanchez and Herrera as Mourinho makes three more changes in the latter stages of this match.

GOAL!  Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool (Shaqiri)

GOAL!  Shaqiri scores a fourth for Liverpool - a debut goal - as he produces an excellent over-head kick into the back of the net. United were all over the place at the back there it must be said.

United have been poor in the second period it must be said.

Williams has a couple of digs at Shaqiri before the referee blows his whistle. The United players want this game to be over and done with. The second period has not been good for them.

Liverpool are keeping the ball as we approach the final stages of this match.

Just the one minute of stoppage time at the end of the match.

FULL TIME:  Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool

So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with United suffering a 4-1 defeat to Liverpool in Michigan. Poor second half from the Red Devils it must be said! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our pre-season coverage once again. See you soon!